Willoughby Hills Police Chief Christopher J. Collins discusses the fatal stabbing that occurred in the city early Friday during a press conference at city hall. At right is Det. David Broadwater.

NOTE: The 911 call audio is posted at the end of this story. WARNING: Content may be too intense for some viewers.

A 41-year-old woman was stabbed to death in her Willoughby Hills home early Friday morning, and her foster child is the suspected killer.

About 1:16 a.m., Willoughby Hills dispatchers received a 911 call from a young female at 2518 Chagrin Drive, said Willoughby Hills Police Chief Christopher J. Collins in a news release.

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The caller was screaming and said her sister had a knife and was attacking her mother, later identified as Lisa M. Knoefel, Collins said.

Willoughby Hills and Waite Hill police and Willoughby Hills Fire arrived at the home at 1:19 a.m. When they arrived, they met the 13-year-old caller, who ran out of the front door to meet them, Collins said.

When officers went into the home, they found an 18-year-old female, identified as Sabrina A. Zunich, covered in blood and holding a knife. Zunich was detained and taken to Lake Health West Medical Center, said Collins.

Officers then went into a first-floor bedroom, where they found Knoefel with multiple stab wounds. Emergency personnel tried to resuscitate the victim, but she was pronounced dead on the scene by Lake County Coroner Dr. Lynn Smith.

At an afternoon press conference, Collins said Knoefel was an employee of the Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services, although Zunich was fostered through Lake County Child Services. The victim's husband, a truck driver, was on the road when the attack happened but has returned to Willoughby Hills and is assisting with the investigation.

The 13-year-old caller was the victim's biological daughter from a previous relationship. A 3-year-old girl, the biological daughter of the Knoefels, was also home during the attack.

The chief also said police occasionally had been called to the residence over the last couple years for nonviolent domestic situations, not uncommon for foster families. Though she is 18, Zunich remained in foster care as she continued to attend South High School in Willoughby.

"Everything we've heard is that she was trying to turn her life around, doing better in school," Collins said. "Nothing indicated anything like this."

Details about the suspect's history before moving in with the Knoefels remain murky.

"As far as any prior stuff as a juvenile, where she's been, I don't have any of that information at this time," Collins said.

The attack took place in the victim's bedroom, police said. Knoefel was the only apparent target. The 13-year-old, who was awakened by the incident, had attempted to get Zunich away from her mother but was shoved away and called 911.

Collins said Zunich did not resist arrest when police arrived and had made no admission or statements as of Friday afternoon.

Zunich is being held at the Lake County Jail. Charges are expected to be filed next week.

Collins said police had "absolutely no idea" what caused the teen to attack her foster mom, though investigators are looking into the possibility she was off a prescribed medication.

"We don't know what triggered this incident at this time," Collins said. "At this point that's still part of the investigation."